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By Greg Prichard

Melody Again, a last-start winner at Group Three level, is being prepared for a first-up crack at The Kosciuszko, with her trainer Scott Singleton buoyed by his belief that she’s too classy not to get a start in the race.

“I just feel like she probably deserves a place in the field,” Singleton said.

“It’s not like she’s just a Highway winner, she’s proven to be a bit better than that.

“But it’s one of those things, someone either likes you or they don’t. She’s classy enough to be in the race.”

The $2 million The Kosciuszko will be run over 1200 metres at Randwick on October 18.

Punters can go in the draw to have a horse run for them in The Kosciuszko by purchasing sweepstakes tickets at $5 each through the TAB app, tab.com.au, your local pub and club and at race meetings.

Scott Singleton & Christian Reith after Melody Again's Scone win. (Pic: Bradley Photos).

Ticket sales close at 11.59pm on Monday, September 8, and the 14 slot-holders will be drawn at 10am on Wednesday, September 10. They can then do a deal on a prizemoney split with the connections of eligible runners trained in the NSW country or ACT.

Numerous horses are currently “auditioning” for a start in The Kosciuszko by running in TAB Highway Handicaps and other city races in a bid to attract the interest of the eventual slot-holders.

But, since Scone-based Singleton is of the firm opinion that running Melody Again in a race before The Kosciuszko would likely be counter-productive to her chances of hitting the bullseye on her main target, he’s prepared to take the chance she might miss out.

It shouldn’t be a big risk, though, when you consider Melody Again’s overall form and in particular her recent record.

A five-year-old mare with six wins and eight placings from 22 starts, she has recorded three of her victories over 1200 metres and the other three over 1400.

She is regarded as a horse that is better off over 1400 metres further into a preparation but cherry ripe for 1200 first-up and she has run fast times over both distances.

In her most recent preparation, during the autumn, she had two starts for a first-up win over 1200 metres at Dubbo and then the finest moment of her career when she won the Group Three Dark Jewel Classic over 1400 at Scone.

“She’s pretty effective first-up,” Singleton said.

“She’ll go in first-up if she gets a slot and have just the one barrier trial before that. To have her right for the 1200 this is the best preparation for her. I’d be pretty sure she’ll be in the right shape on the day.

“She’s a Group Three winner, she can run the 1200 right out and over the Randwick 1200 you need a horse you know can run it right out.”

Singleton said he was looking at galloping Melody Again between races at the Scone meeting on September 26 and then running her in a barrier trial at Newcastle on October 9 - nine days before The Kosciuszko.

“She doesn’t do it at both ends in her races,” Singleton said.

“She just gets back and sprints home, so trials don’t take too much out of her.

“The trial will just be for us to make sure she’s in order. I’d be pretty sure how I’ll have her before that and so far, so good.

"If she finishes off nicely in the trial that’s all I’ll be looking for. She generally trials pretty well.”

Buy your tickets in The Kosciuszko sweepstakes here - anyone can win!